I'm trying to create an encrypted archive of some files in a ditrectory.

It seems like gpg-zip should do what I want but I can't get it to do simple symmetric encryption.

The trouble is that even though I'm specifying --symmetric gpg-zip still insists on being given a user:-

chris@esprimo$ gpg-zip --encrypt --symmetric --output fred glomtest Enter passphrase: Repeat passphrase: You did not specify a user ID. (you may use "-r")

Current recipients:

Enter the user ID. End with an empty line: chris

Current recipients: 2048g/8FC95300 2015-10-05 "chris chris@esprimo"

Enter the user ID. End with an empty line: File `fred' exists. Overwrite? (y/N) y

I can then just decrypt the archive with:- gpg-zip --decrypt fred no need for the passphrase!

That's useless for what I want. I want an encrypted archive that uses the passphrase I give when encrypting and requires the passphrase again to decrypt it. Otherwise anyone walking up to my computer when it's turned on (and I'm logged in) can decrypt the archive.

Can gpg-zip do what I want and, if so, how? Otherwise what are the alternatives?